Are triangular scientific collaborations preferable or not?
In the current study, we examine a multiplex collaboration network to find out if there is a preference in forming extended, triangularly shaped, collaborations or just regular links. The first layer corresponds to the collaborations that have accomplished for the creation of patents, while the second one to the collaborations between scientists that took part in Framework Programme projects. The nodes of the multiplex are the NUTS2 geographic regions of the inventors-scientists, while a link between two such regions exists when scientists from different regions collaborate.